News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

August 29, 2008

About five months ago, I called the Cowboys PR director to see if the team was planning to sign Larry Allen to a ceremonial contract so he could retire a Cowboy. Turns out my instincts were right, although my timing was way off. Allen indeed has decided to hang up the cleats after 14 years in the league, the last two in San Francisco. Here are the latest details from the Cowboys blog ...

The 49ers never ruled out re-signing Allen in the offseason, but it always seemed like a longshot. The team liked how David Baas played at the end of the season, and they had plans to finally allow Adam Snyder to concentrate on one spot, left guard. Tony Wragge also has been impressive, and, of course, the team used its second-round pick on Chilo Rachal ....

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There's been a lot of news in recent months about L.A. developer Ed Roski and his plan to lure a team -- or two -- to a new stadium in L.A. Today, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune has a story that quotes Roski's business partner as saying there was "no doubt" a team would be playing in the L.A. area next year. In April, Roski listed the Saints, Bills, Vikings, Jaguars, Chargers, Raiders and 49ers as teams that might make the move. Jed York today told me that the 49ers have had no contact with Roski's group. The Yorks, of course, are in the midst of a stadium project of their own -- in Santa Clara.

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5:02 p.m. -- Looking through my binocs I see a group of five 49ers running sprints on the field. they are: J.T. O'Sullivan, Nate Clements, Frank Gore, Patrick Willis and Adam Snyder. Snyder (ankle) obviously is out of his plastic boot and seems to be running fine. Of course, he comes in last each time they sprint ...

5:11 p.m. -- Alex Smith, Shaun Hill and Philip Rivers are chatting at the 50-yard line. Here's how I imagine the conversation:

AS: So, how's the old knee?
PR: Great.
AS: Darn.

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Just received the lineup changes for tonight's game. Basically, the entire San Diego first string has been scratched from the game. That's Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shawne Merriman, Antonio Gates, Chris Chambers, Jamal Williams ...etc., etc. For the 49ers, Snyder, Allen Rossum, Keith Lewis, Jonas Jennings and Josh Morgan are scratches. David Baas will start for Snyder at LG; Barry Sims will start for Jennings at RT ...

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Apparently, the 49ers have seen enough of J.T. O'Sullivan. He's wearing a baseball cap while Alex Smith is warming up ... I'm told it's not a health issue ... It looks like Patrick Willis, Walt Harris and Nate Clements also are getting the VIP treatment. Dontarrious Thomas, Shawntae Spencer and Donald Strickland are substituting. ... It doesn't look like Frank Gore is playing, either ...

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NT Aubrayo Franklin has just left the game with what looks like a right knee injury .... Now it looks like Ronald Fields, Franklin's backup, also is nicked. Trainers appear to be working on Fields' left elbow ...Atiyyah Ellison is now in the game at NT

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Fields is back out for the second series. He's wearing a rubber sleeve over his elbow ...

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Now you know why Mike Martz is so gaga about Delanie Walker -- a 101-yard kickoff return. Somone call STATS and see if a tight end has ever returned a kickoff for a TD ...

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Jay Moore has a right torn biceps. That's an injury that will land him on IR. The 49ers were planning to release Moore and then add him to their practice squad. That won't happen now, but at least there's no risk of losing him.

MATTHEW BARROWS

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.